Air conditioner



Feb. 21, 1928. 1,660,164

w. B. HODGE AIR coumuousn Filed. March 18, 1924 2 Shee ts-Sheet 1 m m J Gttozm W. B. HODGE AIR CONDITIONER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,2 m 5, MM

B m m Patented Feb. 21, 1928.

marsh STATES PATENTOFFECE.

WILLIAM B. HODGE, F CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOB TO PARKS-CW3 COMPANY, OF FITCHBURG, MASSACHUSETTS, A. COBPOBATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

AIR CONDITIONER.

Application filed March 18, 1924. Serial No. 700,124.

Thisv invention relates to air conditioning and particularly to apparatus for humidifying air.

In direct humidification of the air in rooms, by means of humidifyin heads mounted in the rooms, high rates of umidification are often found impracticable because of poor air circulation. This leads to localized super-saturation of the air and local precipitation.

The apparatus forming the subjectmatter of the'present application involves the traversing of the humidifier so that it discharges a blast of highly humidified air into the air of the room at progressively changing places, either by traversing the humidifier or by progressively changing its orientation.

The invention lends itself readily to practice by the use of a simple oscillating fan or other commercial traversing fan as the air propelling element of the humidifier. The moisture is sprayed into the air current created by the fan and the traversing action of the fan causes the air current to carry this moisture in various directions successively, so that the moisture, continually reaches fresh bodies of air. For this reason a higher water rate is possible than can be used with .a similar fan fixed in position or direction.

To secure simple regulation, I provide means for actuating the controlling mechanism by power derived from the fan, and preferably from the traversing movements thereof. This permits the use of a light and simple hygrostatic device, which is never subjected to the load shifting the controlling mechanism, but serves merely to position stops or the like so as to apply the power of the fan.

Various embodiments of the apparatus are possible, but I prefer and illustrate one making use of a simple oscillating electric fan, in conjunction with an aspiratlng water p yen In the drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the complete devlce.

' Fig. 2 is a rear view thereof.

. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

The oscillating fan includes a pedestal base 6, and an oscillating head 7, mounted at 8 on the base 6 so as to turn on a vertical axis. The head 7 encloses an electric motor This swings through a relatively small angle between open and closed positions as clearly shown in Fig. 3. The fan 9 is protected. by the usual guard 17 which carries at its centre in front of fan 9 an atomizing nozzle 18 having a flexible tubular connection 19 with water pipe 12 and a second flexible tubular connection 20 with air pipe 13.-- The air blast through nozzle 18 draws water through pipe 12 and connection 19, and sprays this water into the air current produced by fan 9.

In the case of the nozzle described, the water head is insufficient to discharge water through nozzle 18 except when the air blast is acting. Valve 14 thus serves to stop and start the water spray from nozzle 18. While this valve controls the air blast directly and the water only indirectly, as-explained, it is y in effect a means for controlling the water spray. Although I prefer the atomizing nozzle described, it is apparent that other sprays might be used, and that certain of them might require direct control of the water in ways familiar to those skilled in the art. The construction illustrated thus is typical of controllable water sprays generally, and in a narrower sense is explicit as to the preferred construction.

To actuate the valve 14 I make use of an actuator device swinging with head 7 and set by a hygrostat. A bracket 21 on head 7 carries a cross-bar or spreader 22. A hygroscopic member 23 consisting of strands of silk or thelike has one end connected at 24 to one end of spreader 22, and the other end connected through swivel 25, and ad justing screw 26 to the other end of spreader 22. Screw 26 which it" is adjusted and has a graduated dial 28 on which the adjustment'is indicated by index 29.

Mounted near the mid-length of member 23 is a clip 30 connected by links 31 with a. lever 32. This lever is fulcrumed between its ends on bracket 21 by means of a serew has a knurled head 27, by I I largely self-contained, The

ile these structura 33. Swiveled in the ends of lever 32 are sleeves 34 through which extend rods 36 having heads 37 attheir upper ends. The

rods control the positions of respective latch members 38 each of which is guided in a guide member 39 carriedon head 7. The latch members 38 are free to move vertically but not to rotate and each is'beveled at'its lower end asshown at 40.

The rods 36 are connected to respective latch members 38 by threads 41, and by turning the rods the latch members may be adjusted. This adjustment'may be so made that one latch member 38 moves into 'posi-.

tionto engage .lever 16 practically as soon as the other member 38 clears it, giving the closest possible regulation, or 'a lag may be causedby so adjusting the latch members .thatthere is a considerable range of motion of lever 32 in which neither member 38 engages. The structure is'obviouslysusceptible of modification.

-Thestructure described is simple and regulating mechanism is positive in action and may be applied to existing fans without requiring an very important chair es.

' great practical importance, the; device gains its greatest practical value from the fact that it operates according to the method set forth, i. e., it serves to project a highly humidified air blast continuall into fresh and relatively avid portions of t e surrounding. air. So far as the method is concerned, the ath of the traversing fan is not limited to c anges of'or'ientation, and I contemplate the use in practicing my. method of various types of traversing fan'having translatory. movemmt of considerable range.

What is claimed is: 1. In a humidifier, the combinationof a fan, automatic means for traversingsaid fan; and pneumatically actuatedatomlzmg rent produced a 2. In a humi 'fier,'.the COIflbIlifltlOll of a. fan; automatic means; for traversing Zsard means for spra 'ing' water into the air cursaidfan.

fan; and a pneumatically actuated atomizingvwater nozzle mounted to travel with said fan and arranged todirect its sprayinto features are of and in the general direction of the air current produced-by thefan.

3. In a humidifier, the combination of a rotary fan; a device for oscillating said fan;

a single power means for rotating said fan "and actuating said oscillating means; and

means for producing an atomized water spray in the air currentleaving said fan. 4. In a humidifier, the combination of a "rotary fan; a device for oscillating said fan;

power means for rotating said fan and for actuating 'saidoscillating means; and a pneumatic aspirating spray nozzle mounted to oscillate with said fan and to direct its spray in thegeneral direction of the current produced bythe fan. I

5. In a humid'fier, the combination of a fan; means for driving and simultaneously traversing said fan; means for spraying waterinto the air current produced by said fan;-means for controlling' said water spray a hygrostat; and'mechanism set by said bygrostat,'and arranged togapply the power .of said fan driving means to actuate said spray controlling means in accordance with t e varyin condition of said hygrostat.

, 7. In a umidifier, thecombination of a fan; means. for driving and simultaneously traversing said fan; means includin an as-' p rating air blast for spraying water into the .air current'produced by said fan; means for controlling said. air blast; a-hygrostat; andmechanism set bysaid hygrostat, and ar-' ranged to apply thepower'of said fan drivmg means to actuate said. air blast controlhng meansin accordance with the varying condition of said hygrostat;

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification. a

1 WILLIAM B. ones. 

